Radiotherapy activities and technological equipment in Veneto, Italy: a report from the Rete Radioterapica Veneta
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RADIOTHERAPY
Radiotherapy activities and technological equipment in Veneto, Italy: a report from the Rete Radioterapica Veneta Simona Bellometti1 · Gabriele Nube2 · Filippo Alongi3 · Cristina Baiocchi4 · Luigi Corti5 · Saide Di Biase6 · Francesco Fiorica7 · Alessandro Gava8 · Tiziana Iannone9 · Imad Abu Rumeileh10 · Renzo Mazzarotto11 · Alessandro Testolin12 · Giovanni Mandoliti6 · On the behalf of “Triveneto group of Italian Association of Radiotherapy and Clinical Oncology (AIRO)” Received: 15 June 2020 / Accepted: 15 November 2020 © Italian Society of Medical Radiology 2020
Abstract Background Despite the pivotal role of radiotherapy in oncology, the provision of radiation treatments remains inadequate in many areas of the world. The present report is an assessment conducted among Radiation Oncology centers of Veneto region with the aim to collect information concerning radiotherapy assets and technological equipment availability. Methods Data concerning Veneto Radiation Oncology departments about radiotherapy activities, number of treatments, techniques used and radiotherapy machines available were collected. The reference time period was 2018. Reimbursement system databases and business intelligence systems were used. Extra-regional attraction and migration were evaluated. When available, data were compared to previous years. Results Veneto in 2018 was endowed with 1 megavolt unit for about 153,000 inhabitants. The number of megavolt machines per million inhabitants resulted to be 6.72. In 51% of radiotherapy treatments, intensity-modulated techniques were performed. Six percent of treatments were administered to extra-regional patients. Conclusion Radiotherapy assets and equipment in Veneto seem to be appropriate to standard requests in terms of availability and technology. Keywords Cancer · Radiotherapy · Resources Management · Health Economy · Technology
Introduction Cancer is a major public health problem in Italy with an estimated incidence for 2019 of 371,000 new cases and a mortality of 179,000 per year. The main epidemiological indicators are heterogeneous, and a north–south gradient is reported with a reduction in cancer incidence of 4–5% in the center and 14–17% in the south respect to the north of Italy [1]. Considering the distribution of the phenomenon per region, a mean of 31,009 new cancer cases per year (excluding skin cancer) are estimated in Veneto [2], a Northern Italy region composed by nine local health and social care services called ULSS (Unità Locale Socio-Sanitaria) forming the public health regional system (Fig. 1). * Saide Di Biase [email protected]; [email protected] Extended author information available on the last page of the article
Radiotherapy is an integral part of comprehensive cancer management representing an effective method for treating cancer with curative intent and a widespread approach for palliation in patients with advanced disease. Approximately, 50-60% of all cancer patients worldwide are estimated to receive radiotherapy at any point
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